Top Shape Builds in Dead by Daylight for 2025

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• The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)
• The Shape: Best Build (2025)
• The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Michael Myers, known in Dead by Daylight as The Shape, is the first licensed Killer to appear in the game. He is a cold, methodical predator who thrives on stalking Survivors from a distance before striking with deadly precision. His ability to build momentum while hunting makes him one of the most feared Killers in the game.

This guide explores the best builds for The Shape, including both teachable and non-teachable perks. Whether you're new to playing as The Shape or looking to refine your strategy, these builds will help you maximize his potential in 2025.

Updated on January 13, 2025, by Siddarth Narasimman: Despite still being considered one of the weaker killers in the game, Michael Myers remains a popular choice among newer players. Thanks to recent buffs introduced in Patch 8.4.0, The Shape now has enough strength to be a viable option in matches. With this renewed relevance, it's more important than ever to know the best builds and add-ons for playing as this legendary horror icon.

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

For players without access to other Killer perks, The Shape can still dominate the trial with the right non-teachable build. This setup leverages Save the Best for Last to shorten chase cooldowns while using Sloppy Butcher to slow Survivor healing. Hex: No One Escapes Death and Bitter Murmur ensure strong endgame pressure, allowing The Shape to eliminate Survivors without needing to fully stalk them.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape) – Hitting a Survivor that isn't the Obsession grants one token, up to a maximum of eight. Each token provides a 4% reduction in basic attack cooldown, up to 32%. When the Obsession is hit, two tokens are lost.
• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk) – Once the final generator is completed, all Survivors receive the Exposed status effect, and the Killer gains a 4% Haste boost until the Hex Totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk) – Every time a generator is completed, Survivors within 16 meters have their auras revealed for 5 seconds. Once the last generator is completed, all Survivors' auras are revealed for 10 seconds.
• Sloppy Butcher (General Perk) – Basic attacks inflict Mangled and Hemorrhage, slowing healing speed by 25% and regressing progress when interrupted.

The Shape: Best Build (2025)

This build focuses on disrupting generator progress while compensating for The Shape’s early-game weakness. Using Lethal Pursuer gives crucial early aura readings, helping The Shape locate Survivors quickly. Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance and Deadlock allow for efficient generator sabotage, while Coup de Grâce improves looping efficiency.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis) – At the start of the match, see all Survivor auras for 9 seconds. Additionally, extend aura-reading duration by 2 seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist) – Begins with four tokens. For each different Survivor hooked on a white Scourge Hook, lose one token and destroy the generator with the most progress, removing 25% of its total completion.
• Deadlock (The Cenobite) – After each generator is completed, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 25 seconds and marked with a white aura.
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins) – Gains two tokens per generator completed. Spend one token to increase lunge attack range by 80%.

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Memorial Flower

As a common rarity item, the Memorial Flower offers an 11% boost to stalking rate—valuable for a Killer like The Shape, who struggles with early map control.

Dead Rabbit

While it reduces the Terror Radius by 25% in Evil Within II, it increases it during Evil Within III. It works best when paired with perks like Monitor and Abuse to prevent early detection.

J. Myers Memorial

This add-on boosts The Shape’s stalking gain rate by 25%, making it ideal for quickly reaching Evil Within III. Often used with Tombstone Piece to reduce the time needed to activate powerful effects.

Hair Bow

Increases the duration and effectiveness of Evil Within III, especially useful when combined with J. Myers Memorial for consistent pressure across the map.

Tombstone Piece

Arguably The Shape’s most powerful add-on, Tombstone Piece allows for instant kills upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of the Survivor’s hook state. This outperforms Judith’s Tombstone by not applying a movement penalty.

Lock of Hair

Adds 40 seconds to Evil Within III duration and increases stalking rate during that phase. While slightly less effective than the Hair Bow, it pairs well with Lethal Pursuer and J. Myers Memorial.

Fragrant Tuft of Hair

Although it reduces The Shape’s stalking rate by 200%, it grants infinite Evil Within III duration. This allows The Shape to instantly down Survivors without needing to stalk them first, eliminating the need for power management.